Pool Lifeguard
SISSS00133 Pool Lifeguard Skill Set
The Royal Life Saving Pool Lifeguard course offers expert professional training, and leads to a nationally accredited skill set - ‘SISSS00133 Pool Lifeguard Skill Set’.
Along with covering the skills and knowledge of first aid, resuscitation, swimming and water safety you will also learn about rescue and emergency response techniques, aquatic supervision, risk management, public relations, effective communication, conflict management and basic technical pool operations. These are valuable skills in any work context and lifeguarding is a dynamic, in-demand profession that can open up work opportunities in a wide variety of national and international locations.
There are also opportunities for career advancement such as Supervisor, Duty Manager, Facility Manager, Swim Teacher and Trainer/Assessor.
Becoming a Pool Lifeguard
A career as a pool lifeguard brings challenges and rewards, and can lead to further job opportunities in the aquatic industry. It uses many core workplace skills such as communication, risk management, decision making, problem solving, teamwork, customer service and performing under pressure, all of which are transferable to other industry sectors.
You must be a strong swimmer, and, naturally, the job requires a certain degree of fitness, strength and stamina to act quickly in the case of an emergency.
You must complete a Pool Lifeguard course and complete an update course annually. You must also have recognised first aid and resuscitation qualifications, and these must be regularly reviewed and updated.
Learn more about what it takes to become a pool lifeguard at Royal Life Saving Australia.
Student Information - Pool Lifeguard Course
Course Pre-requisites
Students must have completed the unit HLTAID011 Provide first aid prior to enrolling in this course. Your Provide First Aid certificate must be provided upon enrolment into the Pool Lifeguard course.
The HLTAID011 Provide first aid unit is a pre-requisite for SISCAQU022 Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment.
The fitness, strength, efficiency and speed to swim 25m, tow a person 25m and remove a patient from the water without assistance.
English proficiency to work through course resources and instruction.
Minimum age of 16 years old
Access to a computer and the internet to access the Learner Portal prior to participating in the face-to-face training.
Course duration and delivery
Students will start the course with online learning via our eLearning portal. There is pre-reading, online learning modules and knowledge-based assessments prior to joining the practical classroom sessions. This will ensure students have the required knowledge and understanding before progressing to the practical application and assessment in the classroom.
Pre-course Online Learning
4 - 6 hours
Practical Learning and Assessment
2 days (16 hours)
Certification
On successfully completing the pre-course learning, assessments, and face to face training, a Statement of Attainment will be issued, which includes the following units of competency:
HLTAID009 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
HLTAID011 - Provide first aid (credit transfer)
SISCAQU019 - Supervise patron safety in aquatic locations
SISCAQU020 - Perform water rescues
SISCAQU021 - Perform advanced water rescues
SISCAQU022 - Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment
Please allow up to 10 working days to receive your certificate upon successful completion of the course.
Students are required to complete all learning and assessment items within 14 days of attending the course, unless otherwise arranged.
Renewing the Pool Lifeguard Skill Set
It is very important to be aware of when your pool lifeguard qualification expires. Industry has determined that a pool lifeguard certificate must be updated every 12 months. Once the date of expiry has passed you may be ineligible to work.
Royal Life Saving SA offers a Pool Lifeguard Update course for eligible participants to renew their Pool Lifeguard qualification in a one day course.
To be eligible to attend a Pool Lifeguard Update course, you must:
Hold the unit of competency HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, current at the time of the Pool Lifeguard Update course
An Australian Pool Lifeguard qualification (SISSS00133 Pool Lifeguard Skill Set or equivalent) that was issued by Royal Life Saving or another Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with an issue date no older than 15 months at the time of the Pool Lifeguard Update course.
Pool Lifeguard Update courses are published on our training calendar in a range of locations.
If you have previously completed the Pool Lifeguard course but longer than 15 months ago, you will need to attend the two-day Pool Lifeguard course.
Recognition for Secondary School Students through SACE
Secondary School students can attain recognition for completing their Pool Lifeguard skill set through SACE to gain SACE credits.
The SISSS00133 Pool Lifeguard skill set recognised by SACE and equates to 10 Credits at Stage 1 as listed on the SACE VET Recognition search.
A Pool Lifeguard qualification through Royal Life Saving SA is a Recognised Community-Developed Program which awards 10 Stage 1 credits and 10 Stage 2 credits.
The Pool Lifeguard skill set is also recognised by SACE through VET, and may be used as credit transfer for related VET courses.
Contact your school’s VET Coordinator or SACE Coordinator for more information.
Opportunities for Career Advancement
Participants who complete the Pool Lifeguard course may continue their studies by undertaking the SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation.
Short course training opportunities in the aquatics industry include
SISSS00131 Aquatic Technical Operator
SISSS00132 Swimming and Water Safety Teacher
Course Enrolment Information
Courses may close at any time due to overall numbers.
You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa which allows you to enrol in our VET training courses.
Please be aware that Royal Life Saving Society Australia South Australia Branch Inc (RTO 0996) is not registered as a CRICOS provider. We are unable to accept international students in Australia on a subclass 500 student visa.
At time of enrolment, participants are required to provide their valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) for authentication purposes by Royal Life Saving SA. A USI serves as a unique reference number mandated by the Commonwealth statutory office under the Student Identifiers Act 2014, and it can be obtained from the USI Registrar at www.usi.gov.au
